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To save people time, I've removed your the link & I've uploaded the images for you. The award as I'm sure you know is often referred to as the "Order of the Dead" this is mainly due to the fact most of them were awarded posthumously. Here is a list of know recipients: Fritz Todt (posthumous), February 11, 1942 Reinhard Heydrich (posthumous), June 9, 1942 Adolf H?hnlein (posthumous), June 22, 1942 Viktor Lutze (posthumous), May 8, 1943 Adolf Wagner (posthumous), April 17, 1944 Artur Axmann, April 26, 1945 Josef B?rckel (committed suicide in November 1944), October 3, 1944 Rudolf Schmundt (posthumous), October 7, 1944 Konstantin Hierl, February 24, 1945 Karl Hanke (killed during an POW camp escape attempt, June 1945), April 12, 1945 Karl Holz (killed in action, or may have committed suicide, in April 1945), April 19, 1945 As you can see, a rare award. One was recently up for sale in this country for a figure of around ?30,000 if I remember correctly. Cheers Don

A very good question Joe, & not an easy one to answer Let's start at the top. First of all as far as I & others who collect them can tell, these have not yet been faked (probably due to the lack of interest in them). So there shouldn't be any real fears in starting a collection of them...... 1938 Of the three badges that I've examined so far (the small 4cm bronze, & larger 5cm bronze & silvers) all are non magnetic. 1939: The badges marked AG & Co München are magnetic, however the unmarked badges from a different, as yet unknown maker are non magnetic. 1940 All of the badges I've encountered so far are magnetic. 1941 -1944 badges with distictions or disciplines written on them (pistole etc): Curiously, the standard 1941 badges (bronze, silver, gold) I've handled so far are not magnetic (full size), although the gold with oakleaves is magnetic...... However with the exception of the 1944's which I haven't collected yet, all the other years are magnetic (full size & mini). Meisterschütze 1941 - 1944, both sizes: These are a zinc based metal of varying quality & therefore non magnetic. 3 Year Gaumeisterschütze These are strange beasts. The mini is non magnetic, however the full size has a magnetic centre (enamelled section) & a non magnetic wreath The small shield shaped badges 1941-1944 These are magnetic The small round lapel sized badges with Standesschützen Verbandes on with dates 1940-1941 The ones I have encountered so far are non magnetic. So there you are, I said it wasn't easy...... Cheers Don

Thank you Joe, I look forward to seeing you first piece! Not new but un-posted here, these are the 3 year Gaumeistersch?tze mini & full size badges. Awarded only in 1943 & '44, these were given for attaining the grade & badge of Meistersch?tze 3 years in a row. Identical designs exist for 6 years & 9 years however, obviously these were never awarded due to the end of the regime...... This Piece was awarded to Josef Flotzinger of M?nchen who's cased set of Meistersch?tze can be seen on the previous pages. Jani, I look forward to seeing you collection of Tirol Badges. Cheers Don

Indeed a very nice find Robert. Thanks for sharing it with us. Cheers Don

It's a mine field Keep up the good (but confusing ) work Peter. Cheers Don

Very interesting Eric. Looking forward to more. Cheers Don

Very intersting, thank you for the correction. For years the reference books have referred to this mark as being for St & L, but I have often wondered why it was only seen on one type of badge Cheers Don

Steinhauer & L?ck. Cheers Don

I'm afraid that if the symbol on the Silverware is exactly the same as your pin then the website is incorrect. This pin is for the Bund Deutscher Osten, one of the pro nationalist organisations prevalent at the time. If it had been for the Deutsche Christen the there would be a letter "D" & a letter "C" either side of the cross & it would not be in a shield. Cheers Don

No problem Eric, I can move it if needed. Nice find by the way. Did you know that the badge was with the desk or was it an accident? Cheers Don

A very interesting article Peter, although not an area that I've given that much thought to, you've raised some very good points. Lets see if anyone else has any thoughts on this. Cheers Don

Yes Nick, the same principle as with the SS/FM, monthly contributions would be made to help fund the organisation. A nice find, these only rarely turn up, & even less with the translucent orange/red enamel as seen here, more often they have a heavier opaque enamel shield. I much prefer these translucent versions. As an interesting side note, these translucent types often have offset pin mountings (including the pinbacks types), no idea why. Cheers Don

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I just remembered that I got these in with one of the large groups of pins last year. Never gave them much thought, I've no real idea if they are good or not. Cheers Don

Not so sure about the second one Peter, I've not really had much experience with these. However the first one is definitely nasty Cheers Don

As you can see, the prongs are part of the edge. They would be folded over so that the plate could be hammered in.

Thanks Pete. Here you go Joe. From what I understand the DAF were also involved in the area of real estate "Siedlungshilfswerk" or "Wohnungshilfswerk" of the "Reichsheimst?ttenamt", so they built houses and complete villages (Germ. "Siedlungen" "D?rfer" & not only in the occupied terretories, but also in the Reich itself). These houses were sometimes fitted with these "Siedlerm?bel" if not, people could buy it. They were "practical and cheap for the German worker". The plate indicates that the furniture (tables, chairs etc.) were produced in regulations to the DAF. We had a similar system here in the UK during the war (& for many years after) it was known as a utility mark. From what I understand these little plates are very hard to come by now.

the other one

Thank you Gentlemen. Joe, The blue badge is Betriebssportgemeinschaft adler. Adler were one of the car manufacturers I believe. The yacht badge is for MS Wilhelm Gustloff. The DAF tinnie you enquire about is more a plaque than badge, it seems to be a plate that was attached to the furniture issued to people who were resettled/re-homed, it has prongs on it's edge that were bent back so that the plate could be hammered into plece...... I'll scan it tomorrow. Rosenberg, Here you go.

I heard the other week that a fellow collector was giving up the hobby & had packed his entire collection ready to be sent to one of the big German dealers. I asked him if he would reconsider & managed to rescue his collection of tinnies & organisational badges/pins........ They arrived today, mainly KdF, DAF & NSBO, thought you'd like a look at them. Cheers Don

Indeed it does Joe. I forgot to say it's up for about 250 Euro but if anyone is interested in it let me know & I'll give them the website address it's on. Cheers Don

Came across this poster being offered for sale today, thought I'd drop a picture of it here, it measures 71 x 46,5 cm. Cheers Don